Timajh Parker Rivera (Lok Bernau) I Don’t Think We’ve Peaked But We Will See That In The Playoffs

Timajh Parker Rivera is a 23 year old 203cm forward from Milford, Conneticut playing his professional basketball career with SSV Lok Bernau. He played four years at Towson(NCAA) playing a total of 128 NCAA games and as a senior played 33 games averaging 6.5ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.2apg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 58.1%, FT: 50.4%. He spoke to German Hoops before game one of the playoffs against the Fraport Skyliners Juniors.

Timajh congrats on the 94-77 win against Wolfenbuettel and finishing the regular season in first place in the Pro B north. You finished the season in style, but what did the team learn from last weeks close 85-83 win against low ranked team Stahnsdorf?

Thank you! Basically we learned that we can never take our foot off the pedal every night each team we play is capable to hand us a loss. Nearing the playoffs we have to play every game as if it were our last.

Lok Bernau had it´s best scoring quarter in the third. What adjustments did you make to be able to push up a notch in the third quarter? How key were you two beast mode dunks at the start of the fourth quarter? Did this fuel the team to close out the game in fine fashion?

I don’t think we made to many adjustments. We buckled down on defense and that lead to more shots which started to drop in the third.

How key were you two beast mode dunks at the start of the fourth quarter? Did this fuel the team to close out the game in fine fashion?

They definitely gave the team and fans some energy. My teammates found me in great positions and made it easy for me.

(more…)

Terence Smith (Giants Nordlingen) My Defense Doesn´t Get The Attention It Should

Terence Smith is a 25 year old 191cm guard from Russellville, Alabama playing his rookie season in Germany with the Giants Nordlingen. He started his basketball career with Tenn-Martin (NCAA) in 2010 playing 84 NCAA games in three seasons averaging double figures in scoring each season with his junior year being his most productive where he averaged 14.8ppg, 3.6rpg, 2.8apg, FGP: 42.4%, 3PT: 44.4%, FT: 82.1%. He played his last year of school with Mississippi (NCAA) playing 33 games averaging 4.0ppg, 1.2rpg, 1.7apg. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Terence thanks for talking to German Hoops You’re playing your rookie season in Germany. Your from Alabama and playing in a small town Nordlingen for the Giants. What was your wake up call as a rookie in Germany where you knew that you were far away from home?

I knew I was far away from home when I was waking up and my family and friends back home was getting ready to go to sleep.

You are playing an excellent season, but the Giants Nordlingen have struggled all season long. How much of a factor was the players coming and going and injuries not letting the team chemistry develop?

This team has faced a lot of adversity throughout the season with injuries and players coming and going.  That made it difficult with the development of our team chemistry, but it’s part of basketball and we have no control over those things.  I like the energy and effort my teammates constantly bring each and every game despite all that we have gone through.

The Giants Nordlingen are playing the playdowns in hopes of staying in the league. The club has ended the season playing their best basketball. How confident are you that you will stay in the league?

We will leave it all on the court and try our best to end the season on a good note.

(more…)

Chamberlain Oguchi (Boulazac Basket Dordogne) Having To Be The Lockdown Defender While Being The Primary Offensive Threat Isn´t Easy

Chamberlain Oguchi is a 30 year old 186cm Nigerian shooting guard from Houston, Texas that is playing his sixth professional season and this season played with Soles de Mexicali (Mexico-LNBP) playing 30 games averaging 13.5ppg, 3.9rpg, 1.2apg, 2FGP: 46.4%, 3FGP: 40.4%, FT: 81.8%, in Feb.’17 moved to Boulazac Basket Dordogne (France-ProB). He started his basketball career in 2004 with  Oregon (NCAA) playing 86 games over three seasons and then moved to  Illinois St. and as a senior played 34 games averaging 15.2ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.3apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 41.2%, 3Pts: 39.5%, FT: 81.9%. He started his professional basketball career in 2009 with STB Le Havre (France-ProA) and in the last years also gained experience in the D-league with the Maine Red Claws, Philippians, Lebanon, Iraq, Russia, Spain and Poland. He spoke to German Hoops last month before signing with Boulazac Basket Dordogne (France-ProB).

Champ thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and are you a guy that makes new years resolutions or moreover a guy that doesn´t bother with that?

My pleasure. I recently returned to Houston, Texas and am undergoing a strict basketball training program in preparation for what opportunities lie ahead. 

Last season after not being able to play for two seasons due to injury, you played in Poland for Anwil Wloclawek (Poland-TBL): 11 games: 13.7ppg, 1.9rpg, 1.0spg, FGP: 36.2%, 3PT: 35.5%, FT: 81.8%.  What did you learn from that experience?

For starters, I learned that ice-cold weather and myself don’t get along lol. I also learned the importance of patience. After sidelined for 2 seasons I was eager to pick up where I left off, but sometimes the first opportunity is not always the best opportunity. I learned it’s better to wait for the right opportunity than to sell yourself short. I also learned the importance remaining positive and rational in the midst of adversity. 

(more…)

Kyle Fogg (Unicaja Malaga) The Do Or Die Eurocup Game Against FC Bayern Munich Is One Of The Biggest Of My Career

Kyle Fogg is a 27 year old 190cm guard playing his fifth professional season and first with Unicaja Malaga (Spain-Liga Endesa). Last season he led the German BBL in scoring with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven (Germany-BBL, starting five): 33 games: Score-1(18.5ppg), 3.7rpg, 3.3apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 49.3%, 3PT: 35.5%, FT: 89.7%. He started his basketball career with Arizona (NCAA) in 2008 an dplayed 138 games in his 4 year career and as a senior played 34 games averaging 13.7ppg, 3.8rpg, 2.1apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 40.1%, 3PT: 44.1%, FT: 79.5%. He started his professional career in 2012 with the  Rio Grande Valley Vipers (D-League) playing 43 games averaging 5.8ppg, 2.3rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 39.5%, 3PT: 33.6%, FT: 80.2%. In the 2013-2014 season he started with the Delaware 87ers (D-League), in Dec.’13 signed at Lapuan Korikobrat (Finland-Korisliiga) playing 29 games: Score-1(27.0ppg), 6.4rpg, Assists-4(4.6apg), 1.3spg, FGP: 53.5%, 3PT: 39.7%, FT: 84.2%. In the 2014-2015 season he played with Port of Antwerp Giants (Belgium-Scooore League): 32 games: 15.4ppg, 3.3rpg, 2.3apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 43.4%, 3PT: 37.5%, FT: 81.9%; EuroChallenge: 12 games: 16.4ppg, 3.2rpg, 2.8apg, FGP: 45.2%, 3PT: 43.8%, FT: 75.5%. He spoke to German Hoops before the do or die Eurocup game against FC Bayern Munich.

Kyle thanks for talking to German Hoops Do or die in Munich for the rights to advance to the Eurocup semi-Finals. How excited are you for this game? Where do you rank this game in importance in your career in Europe?

Very excited this is definitely one of the biggest games of my career in Europe.

Do you have any friendly wagers going with your ex Arizona teammate Nick Johnson?

Haha nah we don’t have any wagers on the game but bragging rights are on the line.

You probably keep tabs on your ex teammates, but seriously is there that extra special competitive flair between you and Nick Johnson now on the court. You guys came off the bench in the first game and both started in the second game and in both games the stats were almost similar

I follow all of my ex teammates from Arizona, but Nick and I have been close friends since we played together in college. We battled every day in practice, and I expect the same on Wednesday.

FC Bayern Munich have rebounded very well in both games, but key was the Malaga defense in game two in Spain. What adjustments did the team make in game two and what will be key in getting the win in Munich?

For us it was a do or die game. I think we played with a lot more energy and a sense of urgency. We have to bring that same intensity on Wednesday especially playing in their gym. Trying our best to keep them off the glass will be a key factor in the game.

(more…)

Tyrone Nash (Ironi Nahariya) My Close Games Against Bonn Remind Me Of My Battles Against Louisville In College

Tyrone Nash is a 28 year old 203cm forward from Queens, New York playing his sixth professional season and first with  Ironi Nahariya (Israel-Winner League). He started his basketball career with  Notre Dame (NCAA) in 2007 and played 118 NCAA games until 2011 and as a senior played  34 games averaging 9.5ppg, 5.9rpg, 2.6apg, FGP: 48.7%, 3PT: 50.0%, FT: 68.9%. He started his professional career in 2011 with the  Walter Tigers Tuebingen where he played for three seasons playing 99 BBL games and in his last season there played  33 games: 10.5ppg, 5.5rpg, 1.9apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 30.6%, FT: 68.4%. In the 2014-2015 season he played for SPO Rouen Basket (France-ProA): 11 games: 8.3ppg, 5.9rpg, 1.7apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 55.1%, FT: 50.0%. Last season he returned back to Germany to play for the Basketball Loewen Braunschweig (Germany-BBL) playing 34 games averaging 10.9ppg, 6.1rpg, 2.2apg, FGP: 58.5%, 3PT: 24.0%, FT: 66.7%. He spoke to German Hoops before the Fiba Europe Cup game against the Telekom Baskets Bonn.

Tyrone, thanks for talking to German Hoops You have reached the Fiba Europe Cup quarterfinals and now play against the Telekom Baskets Bonn. How excited are you for the chance to reach the final 4?

Yes, we are very excited to compete for a berth in the Final Four.

Before we talk about the quarterfinals let´s talk about the last round against Turkish team Royal Gazientep. You almost wouldn´t have been in the quarterfinals had Ironi Nahariya not played in Turkey on account of massive terrorist threats. How serious were these threats?

Apparently the threats were real. We had a bunch of CIA agents with us throughout the whole trip which was different from any other trip we had during the year thus far. But they kept us all safe and away from harm.

The club then did play the game. How did you go into the game concerning the possible danger that was looming? Did you fear for your life or was a lot of the talk a bit overblown?

It was definitely a strange game to play with all the security and news coverage surrounding us. I feel we all definitely were more alert and cautious during the trip. But despite the circumstances, we managed to put that all behind us and take care of business.

(more…)

Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners Overpower the Young Tigers Tuebingen With Their Allstar Ensemble 75-52 in NBBL Play

It seems like it was only yesterday when Donald Trump was putting on the last final touches of his 2016 Presidential campaign and the NBBL season was just getting into swing, but after a few months the regular season is winding down and the playoffs are looming quickly. For one team, the playoffs were already booked while the other team was fighting for that last spot. Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners had a 10-3 record and sitting in position two despite having lost two of the last three games, but won their last game in Langen 92-68 where Cosmo Gruehn poured in 28 points. In their two previous games, they had lost to ratiopharm Ulm and Urspirng where they were missing their four top players and were led by players like Leon Pullen and Oliver Babitsch who usually get lesser minutes. On the other side of the court the Young Tigers Tuebingne arrived into the game with a 6-7 record and in fifth place battling Urspring for that last playoff spot who also had a record of 6-7, the Young Tigers Tuebingen had to win their last game in Frankfurt to reach the playoffs since they had won both regular season games against Urspring. However Eintracht Frankfurt had their allstar ensemble on board and wanted to cruise into the NBBL playoffs with full force and easily took apart the Young Tigers Tuebingen 75-52 on a wet Sunday afternoon. Only 16 hours earlier 17 year old German wunderkind Isaac Bonga had experienced his first big milestone as a professional registering his first triple double of the season with 10 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists in a win against Nordlingen propelling the Pro B team Fraport Skyliners Juniors into the playoffs. Bonga wasn´t as good against Tuebingen as he only had six points and six turnovers, but was solid on the boards with seven rebounds and had seven assists, but it didn´t really matter since his team had strong support from their three starters Konstantin Schubert, Cosmo Gruehn and Niklas Pons who combined for 44 points and young 16 year old German Alvin Onyia gave good energy from the bench netting 13 points. After the game Konstantin Schubert who is the clean cut guy who never looks like he broke a sweat, but looks more like a young banker in training understood that the club wasn´t totally consistent, but important that everyone was on board. “We had our ups and downs, but was a good preparation for the playoffs. We wanted to go into the playoffs with force and it was important that everyone could play together. We did a good job rebounding and had the height advantage and really took advantage of it”, stressed Konstantin Schubert.

The Young Tigers Tuebingen big highlight of the season was sweeping top German youth team Urspring, but lost both games to TV Langen probably costing them the playoffs, but head coach Manuel Pasios was still content with the performance of his team against a very strong Frankfurt squad. “It was a very scrappy game. Our three point shooting kept us in the game. We were at a big disadvantage under the boards as we couldn´t compensate their height. Frankfurt gave their all and wanted to go into the playoffs strong. We were able to annoy them only a little with our press, but that was it”, stressed Young Tigers head coach Manuel Pasios.

(more…)

Isaac Bonga Unleashes First Professional Triple Double Leading The Fraport Skyliners Juniors Into The Pro B Playoffs Past Nordlingen 83-59

It was shortly before High Noon in the German Pro B league as the top 8 teams in the two brackets south and north were looking forward to battle it out in the Playoffs and wanted to end the regular season in fine fashion while the bottom four teams in both brackets were looking to glide into the playdowns with some force hoping for their poor season showing to be rewarded with better play in the very important last weekends of the season determining who would stay in the Pro B or who would step down into the fourth league the regionaliga. The Giants Nordlingen came to Frankfurt with a lot less pressure as they knew their fate of having to play in the Playdowns while the Fraport Skyliners Juniors not only had a do or die game, but also had to hope for some help from team BG Karlsruhe who were playing against TG Wurzburg and or Weissenhorn who were battling the Dragons in Rhondorf. The only goal that the Frapoort Skyliners Juniors was to win and reach the playoffs would be a reality if at least one team Weissenhorn or Rhondorf lost. In the first meeting in Nordlingen, Frankfurt gutted out a nerve wracking 64-63 victory where German youngster Cosmo Gurehn once again showed his big man passing qualities finding other German Stefan Ilzhoefer for the winning bucket in the last minute. Back then, Frankfurt hadn´t hadn´t had their complete roster and hadn´t returned Alaska native Travis Thompson either, but still won. Thompson returned in December and has been anything short of brilliant, but his hot shooting has carried the team in his 13 games as he has scored in double figures in every game and had some huge games against the Dragons Rhondorf with 32 points on eight trey´s and scorched Leipzig last weekend for 33 points on almost perfect shooting going 8/9 from the parking lot. However the Giants Nordlingen had their own secret weapon in American rookie Terrence Smith who quietly is having a great season as well as he has scored in double figures in each game including explosions against Lich with 28 points and hit FC Bayern Munich for 24 points. In the first meeting against Frankfurt, the Russellville, Alabama native smith was close to a double double having had 16 points and nine assists in the bitter loss. Both Thompson and Smith were extra focused and motivated to carry their teams to victory, but Thompson had an off night as the stellar play and milestone belonged to Garai Zeeb who hit Nordlingen with 22 points while Isaac Bonga recorded his first triple double as a professional notching 10 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists leading the Fraport Skyliners Juniors to a massive 83-59 rout of the Giants Nordlingen securing a playoff meeting with top Pro B North team Lok Bernau while the 26 points of Terence Smith remained a side note.

After the win one of the first things Garai Zeeb does is go visit his family and friends in the stands and when he had gotten his last hug, had a big smile on his face about reaching his second playoff in a row with Frankfurt. “We came into the game knowing their strengthes and did a good job on one on one defense and when a man got beat our help was there. On offense we had too much running around in the first half, but had better structure in the second half and played calmer helping us get the win”, stressed ex Bremerhaven guard Garai Zeeb. The Giants Nordlingen wanted to get into the playdowns with some force and momentum, but couldn´t handle the unending offensive weapons of Frankfurt and just caved in in the second half. “Frankfurt made shots and spread it out on defense. We lacked communication and rotations were missing on defense. Frankfurt rebounded very well. When Frankfurt missed, they got the rebound”, stressed Alabama native Terence Smith.

(more…)

Julian Gamble (Telekom Baskets Bonn) Personal Numbers Don’t Mean Near As Much As Winning With This Talented Group Of Guys

Julian Gamble is a 26 year old 207cm power forward/center from Durham, North Carolina that will be starting his fourth professional season and first in Germany with the Telekom Baskets Bonn. He started his basketball career at Miami(NCAA) in 2008 and played there until 2013 playing a total of 127 games. In 2013 he started his professional career with Saint Vallier Basket Drome (France-ProB): 44 games: 16.3ppg, Reb-3(9.0rpg), 1.1apg, 1.2spg, Blocks-1(1.5bpg), FGP: 59.8%, 3PT: 10.0%, FT: 62.9%. In 2014 he moved to the Basic-Fit Brussels (Belgium-Scooore League) playing 25 games: 17.0ppg, Reb-3(7.6rpg), 1.4apg, 1.1spg, Blocks-1(1.6bpg), FGP: 57.0%, FT: 69.2%. Last season he remained with the Basic-Fit Brussels (Belgium-Scooore League) playing 36 games: Score-5(16.6ppg), Reb-2(8.3rpg), 1.3apg, 1.5spg, Blocks-1(1.9bpg), FGP: 60.8%, FT: 68.1%. He spoke to German Hoops after the huge 101-94 win against medi Bayreuth.

Julian thanks for talking to German Hoops. 2017 is here and coming into it´s third month. Did you make some new years resolutions or are you more the type of guy that doesn´t prefer that?

I did not make a New Year resolution. I focus on goals and improvements as they present themselves. Throughout the year this things change and are adjusted accordingly.

You have experienced carnival in Bonn this year. Was it a crazy time for a North Carolina boy or had you ever experienced something like this before?

It definitely not like something I had ever experienced before! The atmosphere was amazing and something I greatly enjoyed, the fan support that night propelled us to that big win.

What was the craziest experience that you had during the carnival season in Bonn and what costume will forever stick out in your mind when you look back at this time down the road?

Concerning the costumes, I saw a lot of great ones but I think us as a team was pretty special. We are a close knit group and had a lot of fun doing this together.

(more…)

Brandon Spearman (Romerstrom Gladiators Trier) Russell Westbrook Is A Beast And Honestly I Try To Copy A Lot From Him

Brandon Spearman is a 24 year old 190cm guard that is playing his third professional season and second with the Romerstrom Gladiators Trier. He started his basketball career in 2010 for Dayton(NCAA) where he played 36 NCAA games. He then moved to Indian Hills CC (JUCO) and finished his last two seasons at Hawaii (NCAA) and as a senior played 26 games averaging 11.2ppg, 4.4rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 57.8%, 3PT: 33.0%, FT: 52.8%. Last season with the Gladiators Trier (Germany-ProA) he played 37 games: 12.4ppg, 3.5rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 41.6%, 3PT: 30.1%, FT: 61.7%. He spoke to German Hoops after the 59-54 win against the RheinStars.

Brandon thanks for talking to German Hoops! 2017 is here and in full swing. Are you the kind of guy that will have new years resolutions or are you more a guy that doesn´t believe in that?

I believe in resolutions. Always good to set goals for yourself.

Congrats on the huge 59-54 victory against the RheinStars. Could one say this was a classic grind out game where two teams came to play defense?

The Koln game was very important for us. We better our selves for a better seeding in the playoffs if it came down to us or them. But overall we approached the game like it was a playoff game and everyone chiped in for a big victory.

Was this game already a good example of what kind of style can we awaited in the Pro A playoffs on a nightly basis?

We have our own unique style of going hard and I think people will see more and more of it as the season continue.

(more…)

Qarraan Calhoun Is the Forgotten Basketball Soul Experiencing A Rebirth Back In Germany

When looking back at the current short 18 year history and success of the Frankfurt Skyliners, the first three things that come to mind, was their first title in their debut season 1999-2000 where head coach Stefan Koch led the team to the cup, the brilliant 2004 league title under current head coach Gordon Herbert where the Bermuda Triangle of Chris Williams, Tyrone Ellis and Pascal Roller led that team and were as feared on the court as first time sailors are of ever reaching Nassau and last seasons Fiba Europe Cup win where it was all about team that led to that title, but then again without Englewood New Jersey native Jordan Theodore, the team probably wouldn´t have won their third hardware. However that 2009-2010 title drive that ended in the final in a hard fought 5 game slug fest in Bamberg that will forever haunt Skyliner legend Pascal Roller for his missed free throw is a season that stays mostly forgotten and a side note even if it was a very exciting and successful season, but in the end all that counts are who wins that last game. Players like Aubrey Reese, Pascal Roller, Jimmy Mckinney and Seth Doliboa were players that were instrumental in that seasons success, but one guy that will forever remain a very tiny side note in Skyliner basketball folklore is Qarraan Calhoun. The last time, the New Jersey native exhibited a Skyliner jersey, Brose Bamberg still only had two BBL league titles, Dennis Schroeder was somewhere in no mans land between punk and greatness and Johannes Voigtmann was just at the start of his basketball career after discovering the traditional German sport Handball and moving to basketball heeding to the words of wisdom by his grandmother. Calhoun had only survived a little more than 5 months under the guidance of tough head coach Murat Didin before being waived.

Seven years later and after bouncing around from team to team, the American is 30 now and back in Germany very far away from the elite and toiling in the third league Pro B with the Itzehoe Eagles. Calhoun is the forgotten basketball soul experiencing a rebirth back into Europe. Before landing back in Germany on the path of basketball rebirth, the American got experience in the states going the college route and then heading to Europe.

(more…)